Commentary
When you picture Thailand, what images spring to mind?
Gloriously sandy islands, luxurious royal palaces, bustling night markets, and great weather.
However, beneath all the undeniable beauty, Thailand shares a deep, dark bond with China. As someone who visits “The Land of Smile” frequently, I have been shocked by how much influence China has over Thailand. Sadly, Chinese influence is growing.
If there is one thing wealthy Chinese citizens enjoy doing, it’s buying inordinate amounts of land and property. Until recently, Singapore was the go-to destination in Southeast Asia for Chinese property buyers. Right now, though, the Chinese are more interested in Thailand. Last year, as The Nation Thailand reported, Chinese nationals were by far the biggest purchasers of property in Thailand. Between April and June of 2022, for example, over 2,000 units were transferred. This represented a 27.6 percent increase in 2021.
To purchase property abroad, prospective buyers in China must first get permission from the rulers in Beijing. Some will suggest that there’s absolutely nothing to worry about. They'll say that Chinese citizens buying property in a foreign land is fine (although some Americans probably think otherwise). It is, after all, a free world, and Chinese citizens are free to do as they please.
However, the Chinese aren’t just interested in buying property; they’re also interested in buying influence. If in doubt, let me point you in the direction of the China Index 2022, a comprehensive report published by Taiwan-based Doublethink Lab. Of the 81 countries assessed, Thailand ranks fourth in terms of susceptibility to Chinese influence. The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and CCP-backed enterprises now exert great control over Thai media, academia, technology, law enforcement, and its military and foreign policy.
In other words, China has significant control over every aspect of Thai society. The CCP’s sway over Thailand, a key ally of the United States, can’t be overemphasized. Bangkok, a vocal supporter of the “One China” policy, regularly holds joint military exercises with Beijing.
Thailand's Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai (R) places a flower on the jacket of U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken following remarks to the press after a Memorandum of Understanding signing ceremony at the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Bangkok, Thailand, on July 10, 2022. Stefani Reynolds/Reuters
Greg Raymond, a scholar of Southeast Asian politics, recently highlighted that Thai-Chinese associations run incredibly deep. Thai military officers, politicians, and influential business people appear to work very closely with Beijing. The same is true for the Thai police force, who regularly turn a blind eye to the country’s worsening drug crisis.
As I write this, Thai officials are struggling to contain a methamphetamine epidemic. In fact, things are so bad that even Buddhist monks are addicted to the soul-destroying drug. In November, all members of a small Buddhist temple in the northern province of Petchaburi tested positive for meth use. Chinese drug traffickers play a huge role in getting meth into Thailand. They do so by exploiting Thailand’s porous borders with Burma (commonly known as Myanmar), Cambodia, and Laos.
As Raymond noted, with profits from the illicit drug trade steadily increasing, Chinese crime bosses use the funds to purchase Thai passports and property. Aided by compliant immigration officers, members of Chinese triads—many of whom specialize in extortion, human trafficking, prostitution, and the supply of dangerous drugs—are allowed to stay illegally in Thailand. Also, contrary to state-approved narratives, these criminals have close ties to Beijing.
Several prominent political commentators in Thailand argue that Chinese criminals have unconditional support from prominent politicians and lawmakers. This has been the case for decades. In the 1990s, the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs published a lengthy report warning of Chinese influence in Thailand. The authors feared that it was only a matter of time before influential figures in Beijing would look to “exploit” a number of “Thai elites and high-ranking officials in the Thai capital.”
Things are very much complicated by China and Thailand’s close historical ties. Chinese migration to Thailand can be traced back to the 13th century. Today, of all the Southeast Asian nations, Thailand has the largest Chinese population. Ethnic Chinese make up anywhere from 10 to 14 percent of the population. Moreover, as Raymond added, there’s a reluctance to crack down on Beijing’s influence in Bangkok and beyond “given the royal princess Sirindhorn’s much-publicized love of China and her extensive travels there.”
It is clear to see that the CCP’s influence in Thailand is both pervasive and problematic. From flooding the country with narcotics (a tale familiar to many Americans) to flooding political elites’ pockets with sizable bribes, the Chinese have a vise-like grip over an attractive country with an underbelly.
Views expressed in this article are opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
